This Mom Wears A Boy Scout Uniform
I wear a Boy Scout uniform at least once a week, usually twice a week, and frequently on the weekend as well. It’s not my best color, khaki, but I have a hard time coming up with anything more appropriate when I’m headed out with my favorite group of camping and activity friends.
I grew up in scouting - Girl Scouting, mind you. I frankly was at a loss when God blessed me with two boys and it was clear that if I was going to resume scouting, it was going to be Boy Scouting. Thankfully, the organization finds a place easily for moms and other volunteers who aren’t only of the “dad” variety, as my sons’ father is certainly not cut of olive cloth, or khaki for that matter. Being a divorced mom, I sought a place to nourish my need for the outdoors with adventure and fun for my boys, and found it in Boy Scouting.
It’s pretty easy to fit into Cub Scouting as a mom. The challenge gets to be as the boys get older, such as in Webelos and Boy Scouts. There are certain guidelines and rules that really must be followed in order to make campouts reasonable for everybody - after all it is Boy Scouts. But I’m amenable to 2-deep leadership, with at least one other woman on a trip. And we found a Boy Scout troop that welcomes involved parental leadership regardless of gender, for which I will always be grateful. I participate in our district as a training chair, and continue to make sure I am abiding by the rules to make this scouting experience the richest for those it’s intended to enrich - the boys.
My eldest will age out of Boy Scouting soon, but I’m happy to say he continues to be involved in a local Police Explorers crew. With my youngest just starting Webelos, I’ll be in Boy Scouting for several more years, no doubt. It’s hard to imagine not being in Scouting… it’s just in my blood. I love the adventure of getting outdoors and sharing what I know, as well as learning something I couldn’t possibly have expected every trip. I treasure the values my sons are applying, as well as learning, and look forward to what they could mean in their lives in the future. I hope my sons will remember the support I gave them doing what they enjoy, too, and how we were able to share fun times.
And to tell you the truth, I’m glad the uniforms are being updated. It’s a reminder that times change, and scouting still brings something to the table that our children would have a hard time finding without it. Bring on the changes!
